Jack Wall
Question:214 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide funding for a pilot scheme for a third language, that is, a European language, at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare. [13267/98]
Written Answers. - Modern Language Courses.
A pilot project for the teaching of modern languages in primary schools is being introduced by my Department. Approximately 270 schools nationwide have recently been informed of their selection to partake in the project, which will be introduced in the selected schools from September 1998.
The languages targeted in the project will be French, German, Italian and Spanish. Schools have been informed that 1.5 hours per week will be allocated to teaching modern languages under the project. The scheduling of this in the school timetable is a matter for the school authorities.
Whilst the school referred to by the Deputy did apply for inclusion in the pilot project, it has not been selected to participate. As this is a pilot project, it was not possible to accommodate all of the approximately 1,300 schools who applied for inclusion. In the circumstances I regret that my Department will not be in a position to provide funding to this school for the teaching of a European language.